All the acts start off with the couple hosting the Christmas party on their own in the kitchen of their house, apart from Act 3. Act 3 has a different structure to the other acts and I think there is a crucial meaning behind this. Eva is alone in the kitchen of the Brewster-Wrights with Ronald while Marion is in bed. This indicates the breakdown of the strong relationship that was seen before and although they are still living together, it is revealed that they don’t even see each other. After seeing two acts similarly with a couple in the kitchen, the change in act 3 enables Ayckbourn to captivate out attention even more. By contrasting the last scene it keeps us paying attention because we want to find out why and what has happened over the year.
The sets (kitchens) are naturalistic, a indication that the play is also real to life. The audience understands this before we even meet the characters, and so using the set is a good way to Ayckbourn to express the style of the play instantly. The kitchen is also a feature in which Ayckbourn can use appliances conveniently to shape the play and keep it engaging.
In Act 1, we see Sidney and Jane are in their new modern kitchen. It is naturalistic setting and the appearance of it mirrors the couple. It is fanatically tidy which reveals Jane’s personality particularly and we also learn of Sidney’s aspire to develop his business. There are off-stage sounds such as voices and mainly doorbells which generate more commotion and therefore interest. It also makes the pace swift and continues the plot succession. Initially we are told about the Potters who we never see throughout the play. We are introduced to the Potters early in the play and I primarily thought they would be a main couple through the play. Ayckbourn merges the lives and personalities of characters we never see with those onstage, by doing this we are able to learn more about the characters and their personality traits. For instance, the Potters serve as a way that we see the pretentiousness of the Brewster-Wrights. Geoffrey's key personality traits of disloyalty and selfishness to his wife come initiate from Lottie Potter when he tells the men of her appearance.
In Act 2 we see Geoffrey and Eva in their disorderly kitchen. It is again a natural setting and the circumstances the kitchen is in, echoes the couple’s marriage. The aged appliances illustrate Eva’s state and motives for suicide. Ayckbourn uses numerous theatrical devices, as well as the dog, to allow us to see more traits of the characters' throughout the farcical events which follow, and to enhance the comedy of those events. A key feature which allows us to consider it natural for the hosts to be in the kitchens is because Ayckbourn begins both acts a few minutes before guests arrive. So again this reason of preparing the Christmas party allows the kitchen to be the main setting from the start.
In Act 3, Ronald and Eva are in the Brewster-Wrights kitchen; however Marion is in bed, drunk. The change in the opening of the act creates an impact on the reader and creates suspense to find out why Marion and Ronald aren’t as expected preparing for a Christmas dinner party in the kitchen together. In this act music and bells and darkness is used as an effective device. I think the use of darkness creates impact and emphasises the conversation that goes on because if you can’t see anything then as a result you listen more intently.
There are many techniques used in form that enable the play to keep us attracted. Ayckbourn uses 5 main forms of comedy. The play is a farce and there are many features that make it characteristically amusing. He uses doors to establish entrances and exits which as a result creates comedy. For instance, when Ronald attempts to go out the kitchen as he opens the door we hear the dog to growl at him which immediately frightens him and keeps him in the kitchen. This is comic for the reason that although the circumstances is natural, the actions of the characters comical and at the same time the dog is an effective device for keeping the couples in the kitchen and therefore increasing tension and suspense.
The use of doors links to off-stage sounds that we hear instantly when a door is opened. every time a door is opened. The offstage sound of the Potters and the dog is an effective aural element which I find adds impact to the play. Given that Ayckbourn can only create these characters aurally he effectively states that the Potters "[both have loud, braying, distinctive laughs]," so that, when we hear them again, we will almost instantly distinguish them. The sounds create comedy and juxtaposes the situations.
Ayckbourn uses slapstick comedy throughout the acts. This physical comedy is extremely appealing visually for instance when Sidney gets soaked of when Ronald gets electrocuted.
Another technique Ayckbourn uses is flashback and flash-forward, which successfully shows the growth and changes in the characters and their relationships. The element allows the plays pace to continue quickly building up suspense and introducing new specific situations in each act. Act 3 highlights the change in Ron and Marions relationship as we instantly see them separated even though in the same house.
The characters get themselves into ridiculous situations which is called absurd naturalism. Although the situation all seem at appearance comical they all lay serious undertones that Ayckbourn makes certain to point out. We see Eva unsuccessfully and wordlessly trying every suicide trick in the book to no avail, and to the ignorance of the other couples who conveniently misinterpret her actions for household duties and trying to be helpful.
Alan Ayckbourns writing is linear and realistic and he effectively exploits the elements exclusive to theatrical art. I can clearly see from analysing the scrip that it is domestic issues, which dominate Ayckbourn’s drama, such as insensitivity in marriage. He chooses to illuminate social problems indirectly through dramatic presentations.
The way the playwright uses comedy and naturalistic devices to keep the audiences attention and the situations create suspense. His specific use of form and structure creates to unique and crucial aspects of the play. For example, Ayckbourn introduces two characters at a time which allows us to focus on different people consequently continuing our curiosity and allowing the characters to be revealed off each other and creating appealing situations.
